Slider with laterally displaceable engagement members

ABSTRACT

A slider for opening and closing first and second longitudinally elongate closure members including a body with at least one sidewall that defines a channel, side member articulably attached to the sidewall, wherein the side member is laterally displaceable about a hinge. Additionally, an engagement member is attached to the side member. The engagement member extends across at least one of the closure members and operationally engages at least one of the closure members.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of commonly owned provisional U.S.patent application Ser. No. 60/684,943, filed May 26, 2005 by BryanAckerman et al. and incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a slider for use on anelongate closure mechanism, and more particularly to a slider withlaterally displaceable engagement members.

2. Description of the Background of the Invention

Sliders for closure mechanisms having opposing interlocking closuremechanisms are known. In one instance, a slider for plastic film bagswith a reclosable fastener includes an inverted U-shaped plastic memberwith two hinged sidewalls depending thereon. The slider further includesan opening end of the sidewalls spaced wider apart than a closing end ofthe sidewalls to allow separation of the reclosable fastener. Theclosing ends of the sidewalls are spaced sufficiently close together topress opposing male and female elements of the reclosable fastenertogether into an interlocking relationship as the slider is moved in aclosing direction. The hinged sidewalls are located on opposite sides ofa separator structure disposed between the male and female elements. Thehinged sidewalls ride against the external surfaces of the reclosablefastener and press inwardly toward the sides of the separator structurethereby resisting movement of the slider in an opening direction.

In another instance, a slider for a closure mechanism includes atransverse plastic member that defines a longitudinal channel and has awedge-shaped separator finger depending from a top wall thereof.Opposing sidewalls are connected to the transverse plastic member atlocations adjacent to a top wall of the transverse member withlongitudinal hinges. After the transverse member is placed on a sealmechanism, the sidewalls are folded down and locked into place to holdthe slider thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, a slider for opening and closinglongitudinally elongate opposing first and second closure members of azipper includes a body with a first sidewall and a second sidewalldefining a channel therebetween. The channel is adapted to operablyreceive the first and second closure members. A first side member isattached to the first sidewall at a first hinge, and a second sidemember is attached to the second sidewall at a second hinge. The firstside member is laterally pivotable about the first hinge, and the secondside member is laterally pivotable about the second hinge. A firstengagement member is attached to the first side member and extends atleast partly across the channel. A second engagement member is attachedto the second side member and extends at least partly across thechannel.

In another aspect, a slider for occluding and de-occluding opposingelongate first and second closure members of a resealable closuremechanism includes a body that defines a channel for operably receivingthe first and second closure members and an engagement member connectedwith the body. The engagement member is laterally displaceable withrespect to the body. Further, the engagement member extends across atleast one of the first and second closure members and engages at leastone of the first and second closure members.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a pouch includes a first pouchwall opposite a second pouch wall and a slider. A first closure profileis disposed on the first pouch wall, and a second closure profile isdisposed on the second pouch wall. The first closure profile islongitudinally elongate, and the second closure profile islongitudinally elongate. The first closure profile engages the secondclosure profile. The slider is operatively disposed along the firstclosure profile and the second closure profile. The slider includes abody defining a longitudinal channel. The first and second closureprofiles are disposed in the channel. The slider further includes anengagement member connected with the body. The engagement member islaterally displaceable with respect to the body. Further, the engagementmember extends across at least one of the first and second closureprofiles and is adapted to urge at least one of the first and secondclosure profiles in a lateral direction.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a slider according to one embodiment of theinvention with some hidden portions of the slider shown in dashed linesfor clarity;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1with the slider disposed in an operable position on a reclosable zippermechanism and in a closing position with portions behind the plane ofthe cross-section omitted for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 with theslider in an opening position;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 with theslider in a partially assembled slider

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a slider according to another embodiment ofthe invention with some hidden portions of the slider shown in dashedlines for clarity;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5with the slider disposed in an operable position on a reclosable zippermechanism and in a clamping position with portions behind the plane ofthe cross-section omitted for clarity;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 with theslider in an unclamped position.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 with theslider in a partially assembled position; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B are side views of sliders according to yet furtherembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-8, a slider 20 for opening and closing alongitudinally elongate closure mechanism 22 includes a body 24, whichdefines a channel 26 for operatively receiving the closure membertherein, a first laterally displaceable engagement member 28, and asecond laterally displaceable engagement member 30. The closuremechanism 22 includes a first closure member 32, which has an elongateprofile, and a second closure member 34, which has an elongate profileadapted to releasably interlock with the elongate profile of the firstclosure member. The first closure member 32 includes a protruding member36, an upwardly pointing upper hook 38 spaced from the protruding member36, an upwardly pointing lower hook 40 spaced from the upper hook 38, abase member 42, a retention ledge 44, and a flange member 46. Theprotruding member 36, upper hook 38, and lower hook 40 extend inwardlyfrom the base member 42, the retention ledge 44 extends outwardly fromthe base member 42, and the flange member 46 extends downwardly from abottom end of the base member 42. The second closure member 34 includesa downwardly pointing upper hook 48, a downwardly pointing lower hook 50spaced from the downwardly pointing upper hook 48, a base member 52, aretention ledge 54, and a flange member 56. The upper hook 48 and lowerhook 50 extend inwardly from the base member 52, the retention ledge 54extends outwardly from the base member 42, and the flange member 56extends downwardly from a bottom end of the base member 52. When theclosure mechanism is sealed, the upper hook 38 interlocks with the upperhook 48, the lower hook 40 interlocks with the lower hook 50, and theprotruding member extends over the interlocked pair of upper hooks. Inone embodiment, the closure mechanism 22 is disposed along a mouth of apouch (not shown) with the flange 46 of the first closure member 32attached to an upper edge of a first pouch wall, and the flange 56 ofthe second closure member 34 attached to an upper edge of a secondopposing pouch wall. In another embodiment, the flanges 46 and 56 areintegral with or extensions of the respective upper edges of theopposing pouch walls. In other embodiments, the slider is adapted foruse with different elongate closure mechanisms having opposing elongateclosure members.

The body 24 of the slider 20 includes a first sidewall 58 and a secondsidewall 60 extending downwardly from a top wall 62, which togetherdefine the channel 26. Opposing protrusions 64, 66 extend laterally intothe longitudinal channel 54 from the first and second sidewalls 58, 60,respectively, and engage the bottom sides of the first and secondretention ledges 44, 54, respectively, to slidably retain the slider onthe closure mechanism 22. The engagement members 28, 30 include a firstside member 68 and a second side member 76, respectively. The first sidemember 68 is articulably attached to the first sidewall 58 at a firsthinge member 70 spaced downwardly from the top wall 62. The hinge member70 has an axis of rotation that is substantially longitudinally orientedso that the first side member 68 pivots laterally about the first hingemember 70 through an opening in the first side wall 58. The firstengagement member 28 further includes a lateral portion 72 that extendsover the channel 26 from the first side member 68, and a downwardlyturned finger 74 that extends downwardly from a distal end of thelateral portion. Similarly, the second side member 76 is articulablyattached to the second sidewall 60 at a second hinge member 78, which islongitudinally oriented and spaced downwardly from the top wall 62. Thesecond side member 76 pivots laterally about the second hinge member 78through an opening in the second side wall 60. The second engagementmember 30 also includes a lateral portion 80 that extends over thechannel 26 from the second side member 76, and downwardly and adownwardly turned finger 82 that extends downwardly from a distal end ofthe lateral portion 80. A pair of inwardly opposing forces F1 and F2that are applied to the first and second side members 68, 76,respectively, between the respective hinges 70, 78 and the respectivelateral portions 72, 80 laterally displaces and increases a lateralwidth, i.e., in a horizontally transverse direction as seen in thedrawing between the fingers 74, 82 of the engagement members 28, 20,respectively. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the engagement member 28 islongitudinally offset from the engagement member 30, thereby allowingopposing crossing movement of the lateral portions 72, 80 and thefingers 74 and 82.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, each of the lateral portions 72,80 extends partly over the channel 26, and the fingers 74 and 82 aredisposed between the first elongate closure member 32 and the secondelongate closure member 34, thereby operating as a separation fingerable to be widened for de-occluding the first and second elongateclosure members 22, 24. The fingers 74, 82 extend between only theprotruding member 36 and the upper hook 48, which thereby allows thelower hooks 40, 50 to remain sealed below the fingers until theengagement members 28, 30 are actuated as shown in FIG. 3. In one methodof actuating the engagement members 28, 30, for example, a pair offingers 84 a, 84 b press inwardly against the first and second sidemembers 68, 76, respectively, toward the elongate closure mechanism 22,which urges the upper and lower hooks 38, 40, apart from upper and lowerhooks 48, 50, respectively, to at least partly separate the first andsecond elongate closure members 32, 34. The finger 74 of the firstengagement member 28 moves in the direction of the applied force F1 andpushes the upper and lower hooks 48, 50 on the second elongate closuremember 34 toward the second sidewall 60. Likewise, the finger 82 of thesecond engagement member 30 moves in the direction of the applied forceF2 and pushes the protruding member 36, the upper hook 38, and the lowerhook 40 on the first closure member 32 toward the first sidewall 58. Thefirst and second elongate closure members 32, 34 completely disengagewhen the upper and lower hooks 38, 40 are separated sufficiently fromthe upper and lower hooks 48, 50.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-8, each of the lateral portions 72,80 of the engagement members 28, 30, respectively, extends completelyover the channel 26 and the elongate closure mechanism 22. In thisembodiment, the fingers 74, 82 of the engagement members 28, 30,respectively, clamp the closure members 32, 34 therebetween, which mayhelp maintain the closure members in an occluded state and/or mayprevent the slider 20 from sliding along the closure mechanism. Thefinger 74 is disposed on an outer side of the elongate closure member34, and the finger 82 is disposed on an outer side of the elongateclosure member 32. The fingers 74, 82 extend downwardly a lengthsufficient to provide a desired clamping force, so that, in oneembodiment, the fingers extend approximately adjacent the upper hooks38, 48, and in another embodiment the fingers extend to the respectiveretention ledges 44, 54. In a method of actuating the engagement members28, 30, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the fingers 84 a, 84 b pressinwardly against the first and second side members 68, 76, respectively,toward the elongate closure mechanism 22, which at least partlyreleases, or un-clamps, the slider 20. Specifically, the finger 74 ofthe first engagement member 28 is laterally displaced in the directionof the applied force F1 and away from the outer side of the closureelement 34 toward the sidewall 60; and the finger 82 of the secondengagement member 30 is laterally displaced in the direction of theapplied force F2 and away from the outer side of the closure element 32toward the sidewall 58 when the slider is engaged.

As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment includes a third engagement member28 a, which further includes a lateral portion that protrudes from theside member 68 and is a clamping finger that is longitudinally offset onan opposite end of the slider 20 from the engagement member 28. In thisembodiment, all other aspects of the engagement member 28 a areidentical to the engagement member 28. In another embodiment, four ormore engagement members, similar to the engagement members 28, 30, and28 a, may be longitudinally spaced along the slider 20. In yet a furtherembodiment, the slider 20 includes engagement members 28, 30 havingseparating fingers, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, and clamping fingers, asshown in FIGS. 5-8. The separating fingers and the clamping fingers maybe linked together to operate simultaneously or separated to operateindependently, thereby providing a slider having the benefit of both theseparating action and the clamping actions described above. In yetanother embodiment (not shown), the fingers extend between the upperhooks 38, 48 and the lower hooks 40, 50.

The lateral movement of the engagement members 28, 30 in the samedirection as the applied forces F1, F2 may also be facilitated bymechanisms other than pivoting articulation about the generallylongitudinally oriented horizontal hinges 70 and 78. In one suchembodiment (not shown), for example, each of the engagement members 28,30 is slidably disposed in a track defined in each respective sidewall58, 60. In another embodiment, a spring member (not shown) is connectedto one or both of the engagement members 28, 30 to urge the engagementmembers outwardly toward the respective un-separated and clamped states.In yet further embodiment, the lateral movement may be around avertically oriented hinge. The slider 20 may also include otherseparator fingers and closing structures known in the art to assistocclude and de-occlude the closure members 32, 34 when slid in a closingor an opening direction, respectively, along the closure mechanism 22.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 8, the body 24 of the slider 20 in oneembodiment of the present invention is initially mounted on the elongateclosure mechanism 22 with the side members 68 and 76 rotated outwardlyan amount with respect to the operative positions described above, suchas approximately 90 degrees. After the protrusions 64, 66 engageunderneath the respective retention ledges 44, 54, the first and secondside members 68, 76 are pivoted inwardly about the first hinge 70 andthe second hinge 78, respectively, to the operative position. In oneembodiment, a retention mechanism, such as a snap fit detent (not shown)is disposed on one or both of the sidewall 58, 60 and the respectiveside members 68, 76, to retain the first and second side members in theoperative position.

In other embodiments, the slider 20 may include a pull-tab 86 as shownin FIGS. 9A and 9B. The pull-tab 86 in one embodiment has a loop shape,which extends from the top wall 62 of the slider 20. Of course, thepull-tab 86 may be disposed in other orientations and have other shapescapable of being grasped by a user. Traction ridges 88 are disposedalong the outer surface of the side members 68, 70 to further facilitategrasping by the user. The slider 20 may have any of a variety ofdifferent side shapes, such as rectangular, oval, circular,non-geometric shapes as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, or decorative shapessuch as flowers, race cars, hearts, etc.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The slider of the present invention may be used to open and close anelongate resealable closure mechanism, such as an extruded thermoplasticzipper disposed along a mouth of a thermoplastic pouch. In oneembodiment, the slider opens the closure mechanism by urging opposingelongate closure members apart. In another embodiment, the sliderreduces or prevents leakage when the closure mechanism is closed. In afurther embodiment, the slider prevents the unwanted sliding thereofalong the closure mechanism.

Numerous modifications to and different industrial applications of thepresent invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in viewof the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to beconstrued as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose ofenabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and toteach the best mode of carrying out same. The structures shown anddescribed with respect to specific embodiments may be arranged and/orcombined in whole or in part without limitation to the specificembodiments described herein to the extent that such arrangements arepossible. The exclusive rights to all modifications within the scope ofthe appended claims are reserved.

1. A slider for opening and closing longitudinally elongate opposingfirst and second closure members of a zipper, the slider comprising: abody with a first sidewall and a second sidewall defining a channeltherebetween adapted to operably receive the first and second closuremembers; a first side member attached to the first sidewall at a firsthinge, the first side member being laterally pivotable about the firsthinge; a second side member attached to the second sidewall at a secondhinge, the second side member being laterally pivotable about the secondhinge; a first engagement member attached to the first side member,wherein the first engagement member extends at least partly across thechannel; and a second engagement member attached to the second sidemember, wherein the second engagement member extends at least partlyacross the channel.
 2. The slider of claim 1, wherein the firstengagement member comprises a first lateral member extending across thechannel and a first down turned member; the second engagement membercomprises a second lateral member extending across the channel and asecond down turned member; and wherein the second down turned member islongitudinally offset from the first down turned member.
 3. The sliderof claim 2, wherein the channel is disposed between the first downturned member and the second down turned member.
 4. The slider of claim2, wherein the first down turned member and the second down turnedmember are centrally disposed in the channel.
 5. The slider of claim 2,wherein opposing first and second lateral forces applied on the firstand second side members, respectively, in the direction of the channelurge the first side member in the direction of the first lateral force,urge the second side member in the direction of the second lateralforce, and increase a lateral width between the first down turned memberand the second down turned member.
 6. The slider of claim 1 furthercomprising a pull tab; wherein each of the first hinge and the secondhinge is generally longitudinally oriented.
 7. A slider for occludingand de-occluding opposing elongate first and second closure members of aresealable closure mechanism, the slider comprising: a body that definesa channel for operably receiving the first and second opposinglongitudinally elongate closure members; and an engagement memberconnected with the body, wherein the engagement member is laterallydisplaceable with respect to the body, and wherein the engagement memberextends across at least one of the first and second closure members andengages at least one of the first and second closure members.
 8. Theslider of claim 7 further comprising a side member connected to the bodyat a hinge, wherein the engagement member extends from the side member,and wherein the hinge has a generally longitudinally oriented axis ofrotation and the side member pivots laterally about the hinge.
 9. Theslider of claim 8, wherein the engagement member is disposed between thefirst and the second closure members.
 10. The slider of claim 9, whereinpivoting of the side member towards the zipper causes the engagementmember to at least partly separate the first and second closure members.11. The slider of claim 8 further comprising a second engagement memberconnected with the body, wherein the second engagement member extendsacross at least one of the closure members and is laterally displaceablewith respect to the body in opposing relation to the first engagementmember.
 12. The slider of claim 11 further comprising a second sidemember connected to the body at a second hinge, wherein the channel isdisposed between the first side member and the second side member, andwherein the second engagement member extends from the second sidemember.
 13. The slider of claim 12, wherein the first engagement memberand the second engagement member are disposed between the first closuremember and the second closure member.
 14. The slider of claim 12,wherein opposing first and second external forces applied on the firstand second side member in the direction of the resealable closuremechanism, respectively, cause the first and second engagement membersto urge the first and second elongate closure members at least partlyapart.
 15. The slider of claim 8, wherein the second closure member isdisposed between the engagement member and the first closure member, andthe first closure member is disposed between the second closure memberand the side member.
 16. The slider of claim 15, wherein pivoting of theside member towards the resealable closure mechanism increases a widthbetween the engagement member and the second closure member.
 17. Theslider of claim 15 further comprising a second engagement memberconnected with the body, wherein the second engagement member extendsacross the first and second closure members, the first closure member isdisposed between the second engagement member and the second closuremember, and wherein the second engagement member is laterallydisplaceable with respect to the body in opposing relation to the firstengagement member.
 18. The slider of claim 17, further comprising asecond side member connected to the body at a second hinge, wherein thechannel is disposed between the first side member and the second sidemember, and wherein the second engagement member extends from the secondside member.
 19. The slider of claim 18, wherein opposing first andsecond external forces applied on the first and second side members,respectively, in the direction of the zipper increases widths betweenthe first engagement member and the second closure member, and thesecond engagement member and the first closure members, respectively.20. A pouch comprising: a first pouch wall opposite a second pouch wall;a first closure profile disposed on the first pouch wall, the firstclosure profile being longitudinally elongate; a second closure profiledisposed on the second pouch wall, the second closure profile beinglongitudinally elongate, wherein the first closure profile engages thesecond closure profile; a slider operatively disposed along the firstclosure profile and the second closure profile, wherein the slidercomprises: a body defining a longitudinal channel, wherein the first andsecond closure profiles are disposed in the channel; and an engagementmember connected with the body, wherein the engagement member islaterally displaceable with respect to the body, and wherein theengagement member extends across at least one of the first and secondclosure profiles and is adapted to urge at least one of the first andsecond closure profiles in a lateral direction.